The New York Yankees have a pitching problem, with the only reliable arm being Gerrit Cole. Masahiro Tanaka was thrashed on Tuesday evening, and the remainder of the starters have been inconsistent to start the 2020 season. At this rate, I am cautiously optimistic the Yankees have enough talent to carry them to World Series appearances this year. Ultimately, they need another starter, and that is where Clint Frazier comes into play.
With the Yankees heading toward the August 31 trade deadline, one MLB insider believes that they should utilize Frazier’s value now.
MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic proposes an interesting trade that could work in the Yankees’ favor, as they desperately need starting pitching.
Acquire left-handed starter Marco Gonzales from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for outfielder Clint Frazier and right-handed pitcher Jonathan Loáisiga.Â
Gonzales, 28, was 16-13 with a 3.99 ERA for the Mariners last year, logging 203 innings pitched in 34 games started. He was 13-9 the year before with a 4.00 ERA and 3.43 WHIP. He’s off to another solid start this year going 2-2 with a 3.97 ERA after 4 starts. Gonzales’ trade value is enhanced because of the fact he’s signed through 2024 with a club option for 2025 at a club-friendly contract that pays him $5.25 million in 2021; $5.75 million in 2022; $6.75 million in 2023 and $12.25 million in 2024. He would give the Yankees another proven solid starter to put behind Gerrit Cole, Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton in their rotation. The Mariners would land Frazier, 25, who has really started to figure it out both offensively and defensively, but is caught up in a numbers game when the Yankees outfield and designated hitters are healthy. Loáisiga, 25, would replace Gonzales in the Mariners rotation. He’s been used both as a starter and reliever for the Yankees and has some upside but also some risk.
Why this would be a good move for the New York Yankees:
Trading for Marco Gonzalez from the Seattle Mariners would give the Yankees a high profile starter to rely on behind Cole. They can no longer instill faith in J.A. Happ, as he should be moved out of the rotation or into a relief option at the very most. James Paxton has been inconsistent, and Jordan Montgomery has shown glimpses of his former self at times.
With Gonzalez currently sitting with a 3.97 ERA, he isn’t playing the best ball of his career, but he is signed for the next four seasons with a club option in 2025. With such a cheap deal in tow, the Yankees can continue to develop him and turn them into one of their more reliable starters.
The primary question is: Should the Yankees trade Clint Frazier?
Ultimately, Frazier is a supplemental piece that will go back down to a reserve spot once Aaron Judge returns to the lineup. It is better to sell high on a player with MLB level talent but simply lacks the star power to overcome players like Judge.
Frazier is playing exceptionally well and holds immense value, arguably more than Miguel Andujar. This would be the perfect time to cash in and gain a reliable starting pitcher that can soothe the ache of the Yankees starting pitching corpse.